Catholic Church leaders in the West African country also pledged to use Church resources and structures, including the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) and social teaching Catholic Church to mobilize everyone, especially the grassroots, to participate fully in the country’s electoral campaign. treat.
They also resolved to stand with the people of God in Africa’s most populous nation in their attempt to choose the right leaders and in their duty to hold those leaders accountable.
Expressing their closeness to Nigerian youth, CBCN and NCDPA members said, “We will continue to do everything possible to reassure our youth of our closeness to them. While we understand their anger, share their concern, frustration and disappointment, we call on all to avoid violence, both in word and action.
In all of the resolutions signed by the RCCS Church and Society Chair, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martinsand Fr. John Bosco Ezehi, President of the NCDPA, Catholic Church leaders in Nigeria note that they would strive to ensure that the politics of division have no place in the African country from West.
“We will constantly remind our people to look beyond divisive issues and political affiliations and instead choose people with a track record of integrity, honesty, accountability, selfless service, wise stewardship of public resources and closeness to the people,” they said, adding that they would also ensure that the sanctity of the pulpit was not used for political campaigning.
RCCS and NCDPA members acknowledged the provisions of Canons 287 and 2, which prohibit priests from participating in partisan politics, and however stressed the need for clergy to ensure that the faithful are well educated. and guided to fulfill their responsibility. in the political arena.
Underscoring the centrality of prayer in the country’s election period, Catholic Church leaders said, “We will continue to uphold prayer and fasting as our ultimate source of strength and as tools for the realization of the above resolutions. and the betterment of Nigeria We invite God’s people to do the same.
Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Moi University Kenya. Agnès is currently a journalist for ACI Africa.
